This month's Laundry Love will be remembered. IT WAS COLD! It was forgotten that it was the beginning of Spring Break, and that it was to be warm in South Texas. The volunteers took advantage of wearing layers, using the ovens, and lots of hot coffee to serve over 175 meals during the day, including something new from the test kitchen, Brunch Bread. It was a hit, and will most likely make a return to the menu soon. It was a bread dough stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese. We baked it off, and it was a handheld treat.

This weekend we sent a team up into the piney woods of East Texas to a retreat sponsored by the Episcopal Health Foundation. We are a part of their incubation group that is looking how to bring wellness to our communities.

The 2 days of meetings allowed us to begin a process that will hopefully allow us to discern the best way to help our community. We are specifically looking at how we can bring nutrition information and feeding to the south Montgomery County. We are also looking in to the best way for us to become sustainable as we go forward.

This weekend we were invited to join lots of other trucks in an event hosted by 3 Episcopal Churches, held at Trinity, Midtown. We were parked between a speed boat and a cement mixer. It was great to have so many people learning about who we are and what we are doing, but also to have lots and lots of kids playing chef in the kitchen, and honking the horn! I know we have some future volunteers out there!

The Christian tradition marks the coming of the high holy day of Easter with a season of preparation. For the 40 days before Easter people who follow Jesus prepare themselves spiritually for what is to come. We start the season by marking ourselves with ashes, and reminding ourselves that we are dust and to dust we shall return.

The Abundant Harvest joined St. Isidore again today as they held their annual Commuter Church. Finding an empty lot on a busy street, we parked the truck. Big signs informed people that there was Ashes, Prayer, and Breakfast.

Cars would pull in and be met by two priests. They would pray with people and then impose ashes. Then people would pull forward and volunteers would be serving them hot Starbucks coffee and freshly made breakfast tacos.

When I say fresh, I mean it. We were able to have a farmer deliver eggs that were so good and so fresh. All organic, and free range. It makes such a difference! The whole stop was maybe 3-4 minutes, depending on how long they talked to the priest. It was bringing the sacred to the everyday.